Director Purina Farms Operations

Nestle Operational Services Worldwide SA•Gray Summit, MO

5d•$154,946 - $198,645

About The Position

Purina Farms is located on more than 300 acres, 45 minutes west of downtown St. Louis, and includes a Visitor Center and Purina Event Center. The family-friendly attraction hosts pet-centric events and gives visitors opportunities to interact with barnyard animals, dogs, and cats. The Director oversees all site operations, including events and programming, visitor center and guest services, animal care and exhibits, and facilities. The role establishes clear responsibilities and accountability across functions; ensures rigor in scheduling, staffing, procurement, vendor management, and seasonal readiness; and champions guest-first hospitality through service standards, visible leadership, guest feedback, and experience metrics. The Director leads and develops a high-performing team and promotes collaboration, accountability, inclusion, safety, and employee well-being, while strengthening capabilities that support engagement and retention.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in hospitality, business administration, or a related field.
10+ years of progressive, results-driven leadership experience in hospitality event management or event marketing.
5+ years in a senior management or director-level role, leading and mentoring large, cross-functional teams in a dynamic, public-facing setting.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the theme park, hospitality, or a related high-volume entertainment industry.

Responsibilities

Lead daily operations, including staffing, scheduling, procurement, vendor management, and resource planning.
Establish and maintain guest service standards and a guest-first hospitality culture.
Ensure readiness for events, seasonal attendance, and changing guest volumes; provide visible on-site leadership and address operational or guest-experience needs.
Develop and execute short- and long-term plans to improve guest experience, operational efficiency, site capabilities, and revenue opportunities.
Monitor guest feedback, attendance, operational performance, and other site metrics to identify improvement opportunities.
Deliver on business objectives related to guest attendance and engagement, revenue generation, and Purina brand reputation.
Partner with Marketing, Partnerships, Programming, Operations, Safety, Security, and Site Services to align efforts and maximize Purina Farms as a consumer and brand experience.
Translate Purina brand strategy into on-site experiences that strengthen consumer trust, engagement, and loyalty.
Lead and develop a high-performing team and promote collaboration, accountability, inclusion, safety, and employee well-being.